The RPSG continues to expand and invites health professionals to gain opportunities provided by social media networks to improve the health of their patients by facilitating and getting involved in 'real' discussions.

Joint hypermobility syndrome (JHS) is a heritable disorder associated with excessive joint range of motion and pain in the absence of inflammatory joint disease. It is a relatively common cause of musculoskeletal pain but is generally understood to be under‐recognized and poorly managed in clinical practice. The present study therefore aimed to identify how JHS is diagnosed, managed and assessed in routine physiotherapy practice. A survey tool was developed from similar physiotherapy surveys of musculoskeletal practice, a review of the literature, and consultation with researchers and clinicians. Paper copies of the final survey were sent to 201 randomly selected secondary care organizations across the UK and an electronic version was advertised through physiotherapy professional networks. A total of 66 responses (80% women) were received from physiotherapists, with a wide range of clinical experience. Only 32% of respondents reported that they had received formal training in JHS management. The Brighton diagnostic criteria for JHS were not often used (only 31% of respondents). The stated aims of physiotherapy and the specific interventions employed seem well matched, with a focus on advice, education, exercise and self‐management. Although pain relief was not reported as a high priority in terms of treatment aims, pain was most often assessed as an outcome, suggesting a mismatch between what clinicians aim to achieve and what they measure. The results suggest that reported management strategies are broadly appropriate to long‐term musculoskeletal conditions but additional training specific to JHS may be required, particularly in diagnosis and assessment. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

More qualitative research is vital to retrieve 'real-life' perceptions from young people coping with kidney disease to identify how care should be made more explicit for them.

The incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasing with the prevalence of obesity, diabetes mellitus, elevated blood pressure and other cardiovascular-renal risk factors. Wider point-of-care testing (POCT) strategies in the community setting are needed to prevent CKD and delay progressive loss of renal function. Since publication of the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) Point of Care Testing (Near-Patient Testing) Guidance on the Involvement of the Clinical Laboratory, the biomedical scientist can now provide enhanced services including tests for blood glucose, cholesterol, and monitor blood pressure. Under the current pharmacy contract, community pharmacies are now often equipped with sophisticated record access systems and interfaces to monitor drug interactions in suspect/high-risk CKD patients. Current facilities can be utilised further allowing pharmacists more clinical involvement based on community need. Further development of POCT in the community involving collaborations between biomedical scientists and community pharmacists would allow wider service availability in primary care and might be advantageous in suspect/high-risk patients.

It can be concluded from the interviews that young healthy people and those with CKD alike, utilise a range of coping strategies. The themes derived can prompt researchers to potentially develop a coping measure for a young CKD population. However, a longitudinal study would help to recognise coping strategies young people adopt over time and provide a pathway for the development of a formal coping framework.